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Over 5 Billion Kilometers Later, The Tesla Roadster Launched Into Space Returns To The News After Being Identified As A “Near-Earth Asteroid”
On January 2, 2025, civilian astronomers collaborating with international space monitoring agencies detected an unknown object orbiting the Sun. Initially, the item was identified as an asteroid and received the provisional designation 2018 CN41, being classified as a NEO (Near-Earth Object), meaning a celestial body whose orbit crosses that of Earth and may pose a potential collision risk.
As per protocol, the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) began analyzing the orbital trajectory of the supposed asteroid. However, something unusual came to light during the data verification: the object was not an asteroid, but rather a human-made item.
A “Very Familiar Asteroid”
The following day, January 3, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) revoked the object’s classification after confirming it was the Tesla Roadster launched into space in 2018 by SpaceX, company of Elon Musk. In an official statement, CNEOS declared:
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“It was determined that 2018 CN41 was artificial. Therefore, the corresponding records were removed from the Sentry system tables.”
The vehicle had been launched on February 7, 2018, aboard the powerful Falcon Heavy rocket, during a historic SpaceX mission. Inside the car is the famous “Starman”, a mannequin dressed in a spacesuit that remains in the driver’s seat. The car also carries a miniature model of the scene — a Hot Wheels Roadster with another mini-Starman — in addition to a plaque with the names of over 6,000 SpaceX employees and a device containing the complete collection of the science fiction series “Foundation,” by Isaac Asimov.
An Orbit That Continues To Surprise
Since 2018, the Tesla Roadster has been orbiting the Sun in a trajectory quite similar to that of Earth, with a perihelion of 0.99 AU (Astronomical Unit) and aphelion of 1.67 AU, making it easy to confuse with other celestial bodies.
According to NASA calculations, the space car has already completed almost two laps around the Sun since its launch. Based on updated data from Where is Roadster, a portal that tracks the estimated position of the vehicle, it has traveled over 5 billion kilometers in space. And, despite its futuristic appearance, the Roadster was not designed to last forever: the plastic and rubber materials have likely degraded quickly due to intense solar radiation and the conditions of space vacuum.
Facts
- In 2023, researchers from the University of Toronto modeled the possibility that the Tesla could collide with Earth or Venus in the next million years, although the actual chances are minimal — about 6% for Earth and 2.5% for Venus.
- Experts continue to monitor objects like the Roadster to study how artificial space debris interacts with the cosmic environment. This kind of case also serves as a warning for future missions, as human objects can confuse tracking systems and assessment of real threats coming from space.
- The Falcon Heavy, responsible for launching the Tesla, remains the most powerful rocket in operation today, although it is about to be surpassed by the new project from SpaceX itself: the Starship, which is expected to revolutionize space travel in the coming years.
Que máximo! Veículo espacial sendo testado para a futura geração de sortudos que dificilmente dará valor au trabalho extenso e preciso dos mestres da engenharia robótica! Parabéns tesla! E a matéria de grande conhecimento.